Scudder Smith Marks 40 Years In The Newspaper Business

By Sherri Smith Baggett

Throughout life, our paths cross with those of people that have touched our lives and our community. Many times, we meet these people, but most of the time we merely have the chance to enjoy what they have to offer us. Editor/Publisher of The Newtown Bee R. Scudder Smith is one such person that devotes his time and efforts in helping to build the community through the production of the weekly newspaper, as well as beautifying the town with “The Pleasance” garden at 1 Main Street. Never boasting for recognition, his efforts do not go unnoticed.

Scudder celebrated 40 years of employment at The Newtown Bee on July 12, 2001. During his 40 year tenure, he has overseen the production of the newspaper starting from the beginning years of his employment working in the composing room. Scudder has learned and experienced all facets of the job, from selling advertising, to mastering layout of the newspaper pages, to operating the presses, to eventually following his father, Paul S. Smith, as editor of the paper. Scudder assumed the title of editor in 1973 after his father suffered a stroke. Paul Smith continued to be a presence as consulting editor, overseeing his son’s work at the paper until his death in 1990.

The fourth generation of Smiths to publish the newspaper, Scudder has made his life Newtown and The Newtown Bee. He leads his staff weekly in providing thorough coverage of local politics, sports, community news and events, providing an interesting and informative newspaper to the public.

Scudder’s contributions both to journalism and to his community have gone far above what we have come to expect in the worthy tradition of dedication, responsibility, and civic commitment among small town newspaper publishers and editors. In 1963, when he was still working for his father at the paper, he proposed coverage of an area of particular interest to people living in the Connecticut countryside and New England in general. He began providing copy on collecting antiques. Soon significant advertising revenues from the area’s many antiques dealers and auctioneers fueled a continuous expansion of this area of The Bee’s coverage. By 1969, antiques reporting and advertising were filling a weekly tabloid supplement in the paper. By 1976, this section of the paper was spun off as a new publication, Antiques and The Arts Weekly, which today is known internationally as the “bible” of the antiques industry, circulating to 25,000 subscribers.

Scudder has dedicated himself to the community since the beginning of his childhood days growing up on Main Street. In 1998, The Newtown Bee, under Scudder’s supervision, developed a parcel of land in the center of town, which entailed the razing of an eyesore of a building, Lovell’s Garage, and the creation of a beautiful park. The three-tiered fountain and gazebo provide a pleasant place for people to relax. The extensive gardens and plantings there were, in large part, executed by Scudder himself, wielding a shovel, kneeling in the dirt, creating an extraordinary space in appreciation of his hometown. Many a pedestrian there has come upon him, working in the gardens, and has been engaged in conversation by someone they thought to be a hired gardener. They often find out later that they had shared a pleasant moment in the sun with one of Newtown’s leading citizens and benefactors, and the editor and publisher of their favorite newspaper.

During the month of February 2001, Scudder was recognized by the New England Press Association (NEPA) for his contributions to the community and for the success and continued growth of the weekly papers, The Newtown Bee and Antiques and The Arts Weekly. He was one of 20 people inducted into the New England Press Association’s Hall of Fame. He proudly joins his father, a member of the inaugural Hall of Fame class in the year 2000.

Scudder surely doesn’t think of himself as famous and continually tries to remain behind the scenes when it comes to accepting the accolades from his accomplishments at the newspaper and community. Induction into the NEPA Hall of Fame does not make Scudder Smith famous, but to many in Newtown he represents what our town used to be and what we continually strive towards.

Scudder is a hero in his hometown not because he has ever sought recognition, but because he believes excellence is its own reward. To some he may be Scudder, Dad, Grampy, or just another citizen of Newtown, but because of what he has done and continues to do for our community, he is our hero.